Merle Jantz, Freedom To Read; Freedom To Read
"Patrons will tell you: There’s a lot to love about Mt. Lebanon Public Library. Award-winning programs for all ages, knowledgeable and committed staff members, a wide and lovingly curated collection of items from multiple media and plans for a building renovation. Enough good stuff to make it a thriving community hub. But one thing stood out above all the rest, and caught the eye of the Pennsylvania Library Association’s Library of the Year selection board, which chose Mt. Lebanon from among 630 public libraries, marking the first time any Allegheny County library has received the award. The library is the commonwealth’s first (and at press time only) book sanctuary.
The Chicago Public Library and the City of Chicago launched the first book sanctuary in 2022, declaring themselves a space for endangered stories and calling for others to join the movement. Currently, there are 5,361 book sanctuaries across the country.
What’s a book sanctuary?
It’s a space where access to books and the right to read them are protected. A book sanctuary is committed to doing at least one of the following:
- Collecting and protecting endangered books
- Making those books broadly accessible
- Hosting book talks and events on banned books featuring diverse voices
- Educating others on the history of book bans and burning
- Upholding the First Amendment rights of all citizens
This means the library will not remove or relocate any materials from the library’s collection, as long as those materials meet the standards of the approved policy."
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